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We are here for you. Like begets like. You are doing fantastic. You are not gaining weight are you.? I know just how you feel , even after almost 4 years. I eat very very little. I am so used to it. That's why quality is more important than quantity.. Crapy food in your mouth is just wasted time and calories, you wouldn't put bad gas in your car would you.? Or in your dog or cat. And if you have been reading the post, you know how I feel about alcohol. Keep up ALL the positive things in your life. Hugs

What I’ve noticed from reading posts on this board is that nutritionalists offer a lot of conflicting advice. It can be confusing. I would tell my dietician if I disagreed with her advice or if it wasn’t something I could follow in my life & I’d ask for alternatives. What is your goal weight? Does your nutritionalist know what it is? What do they say to explain your lack of loss on the higher calorie diet? Sure, as you get closer to your goal your weight loss does slow but not losing any weight over 2.5 months at your weight sounds like maintenance to me. How active are you? Keto was my recommended 2.5 week pre surgery diet. My personal view is Keto is good for kickstarting your weight loss but not as a long term diet. There’s research about the risks from the high fat component of the diet & also that it can cause issues for diabetics with erratic insulin levels because of the low carb aspect. Just something to consider. I’m all for a balanced diet. I eat about 2 serves of carbs a day (rolled oats & multi grain crackers only not including naturally occurring carbs in other foods), 4 serves of fruit/vegetables, 2-3 serves of dairy, 60g protein & am low fat. I avoid added sugar & artificial sweeteners wherever I can & have a glass of alcohol about once a month. I will have a protein bar if my protein is a little low. My portion sizes are about 3/4 of the recommended serving size or I have fewer serves in a day (like 4 serves fruit/vegetables not the recommended 5). I was told my maintenance protein level was 1.2g per kg of body weight because of being a women in her 50s. I don’t take multi vitamins. This is working for me. It took me a while to discover out how much I could eat in maintenance & I kept slowly losing for 12 months. You will need to work out what works for you in relation to the point at which you can lose & the point at which you can maintain. It will be different to other people’s diets. You may be able to eat more carbs or may choose to go down the plant based protein route. You may need more or fewer calories. You also need to work out what food choices allow you to live your life - dining out, having a glass of wine, travelling (whatever that will be like), work, etc. It may be time for some straight talking with your nutritionalist about your goals & what is achievable for you & your lifestyle. Good luck.

If you are talking about social or business functions, try going back to the classics. Cosmopolitans, old fashions, sours, white/black russians etc... If you are talking about ending the day with a drink, can't help you. Most of the "convenient" drinks that come in cans, bottles, or mixers are just corn syrup and shitty quality alcohol one step from diluted isopropyl alcohol.

I'm on the "Liver Shrinking Diet" and am 8 lbs down in 10 days so if you're on something similar, then yeah that sounds about right. A lot of patients lose a good chunk of weight pre-op. My diet is 3 meals with Protein (any amount) and up to 2 cups of veggies (non starch) only. I am to avoid fruit ( ), dairy, nuts/nut milks, grains, starches, sugars, carbonated drinks, coffee, black or green tea, and alcohol. I'm supplementing my diet with Isopure Protein Drinks. No snacking, 64 oz Water minimum a day. It's hard because I work in an office setting and there are always donuts and bagels around but I am determined to do what I'm supposed to do to get to the next step. If my liver is still too large at my next appt I'll have to keep up this diet until it's small enough. I don't want to do anything that will delay me getting my surgery scheduled.

First, a disclaimer: I plan to have a glass of wine at Thanksgiving. So I'm not apposed to alcohol, especially in moderation. But I've read a couple of research studies on alcohol use with RNY patients. First, one glass of alcohol (any kind) generally hits us like 4 glasses of that alcohol did pre-surgery. So if you drink, don't drive. Second, there is a much higher incidence of alcoholism with RNY patients than with the population as a whole. Research is not clear on why, but speculation is it may be transference (can't binge on food anymore, so binge on alcohol). I'm not suggesting any of this will affect you, just pointing out the research, and why doctors are generally wary of RNY patients drinking much.

i suggest the same thing. call the surgeons office and make sure they r sending your "starting" weight'I was 42 BMI and only 1 comorbities. I have BCBS and i was aproved. Fortunally for me i did nto have to do the 6 month diet, my surgeon just asked that i give my liver a break by not eating any fried food, junk food or alcohol. So my the time i went under the knofe i was -7 lbs. good luck

Dear Kristy29; I know exactly what you are talking about. My husband was not supportive of me getting the Lap-Band either. We have been arguing back and forth for months about this. I am getting it so I can loose weight and become pregnant. So every time he is mad, he say.."so, we can't have a baby because you can't loose some weight?" Well....yeah, I guess so. So this last time we argued, I told him that he really need to stop or get out! I AM getting this Lap Band! And I AM going to loose this weight and become healthy. I tried to explain to him that me with food is like any other addict. You sit there with a bottle of Vodka and ask an alcoholic to drink it....he probably would. He needs help from people around him to stay away and make better choices. I told him that it is hard for me to stay away from food and desserts when he keeps baking and buying it. Yeah, I know that I have to change all of that, and I know that it is up to me. All I am saying is that it is hard...it is hard being addicted to food and feeling like you are always hungry. After our talk he said "okay, I will be supportive, anything you need"! So, last couple of weeks, he has been eating all of his goodies in the basement, and he doesn't tell me about it. And it is working for me! I just wanted him to understand that it is hard for me, just like it is hard for him to stop smoking!!!!!

Hello. Well, I never thought I'd get to the 8wk post-op point, but tomorrow will be 9wks post-op! I am now finally able to eat pretty much anything I want, although I've been taking it easy with every thing especially raw foods, i.e., salads, raw veggies. I will incorporate more salads this week. I've also tried to stay as vegetarian/vegan as possible, although I have had a couple bits of salmon and chicken. I'm not vegetarian for animal rights purposes, although I totally support it, I want to be vegan for health purposes. I am finding it difficult to be vegan but I just need to dedicate time to it and make dishes ahead of time so I have some good food to eat when I need to eat. What is it they say about preparation....?. Time has not been plentiful recently, but I need to stir some up! When my head hunger is stronger than my new sleeved tummy hunger is when I overdo it a bit and, yes, I've been nauseous many times. Haven't thrown up in a while, but came close. You just can't put much food in a little tummy and be comfortable. It just doesn't work. It is so strange to go to a restaurant and order a meal and take 3/4 of the meal home with me, or order an appetizer and even share it and be satisfied. Prior to my sleeve, I would have ordered a couple appetizers a meal and would have been thinking about the next meal right after. I figure the $ I save on food, will get me an outfit here and there along the weight loss journey. I haven't weighed myself in several days but will do that tomorrow morning and update my ticker. Hopefully it is down a few more lbs. So, I know I'm not suppose to drink alcohol for one year after vsg. Well, I blew that this weekend - and I paid for it all weekend! I was at a Reggae event this past Friday evening that we hosted and the bar had a drink special called a "Catch a Cab". It was a largish shooter of what tasted like a Watermelon Jolly Rancher. They asked me if I wanted to try it and I gave my standard answer..., thanks much but I'm not drinking tonight. Well, i caved under peer pressure and had a sip. I then ordered one (it might have been a total of 1.5oz and I sipped on it for a while. I then got a refill, and then another and another!!! I had 4 of them - a total of 6 oz. I must say, I did not catch much of a buzz, but....I was down and out on the couch not wanting to do anything but drink water both Saturday and Sunday. Needless to say, I won't be drinking any time soon as I just can't recoup. I don't know if it is because of the sleeve or just that I haven't had anything to drink for several months. I am loving this weight loss and looking forward to more of it! One Love.

Interesting distinction but if it's working for you then great! That wouldn't work with me. I've said that when it comes to carbs I feel like an alcoholic. If I avoid them completely, I do fine. If I make the mistake of taking that one bite...wham, I can't seem to stop until I'm 'full'. So I need the restriction to stop me...which is the difference between 1 piece of pizza and half of a pizza. .

by 8wks out, i was cleared for alcohol & i have had wine regularly since. no bad experiences - all in moderation.

Some of the artificial sweeteners do that to me (sugar alcohol) Sent from my LGLS992 using the BariatricPal App

My birthday is 3 weeks after my surgery, and my surgeon said it is fine to have alcohol as it is liquid. problem with alcohol is the calorie intake...not the substance. Any liquid will pass right through into the stomach. It is best to stay away from ice cream, milk shakes, alcohol as it is easily ingested, but can cause you to not lose weight, as on any diet. Moderation and all is well.

My surgeon cleared me for the occasional drink, which I've enjoyed, for all that I rarely manage to finish a cocktail. Do be aware of the empty calories in alcohol, though. The other thing I was warned about was transfer addition; most of us were addicted to food to cope with things in the past and, being more or less denied that now, it's easy to switch to something else, whether it's alcohol or exercise or shopping or some other such thing. Just discuss it with your surgeon and keep your eye on your intake and you should be fine.

My husband has gout issues. He is very sensitive to fish, lentils, alcohol, asparagus and brocolli. He try's to make sure that he gets 3L+ of water a day. He takes a medication called Colchicine. He takes 1 tablet a day when he is in remission and 3/day when he has a flare up.

Lots of water, lots of decaf iced tea, occasional lemonade....it isn't as hard as I anticipated. Coffee is ok---I never think about it, as I am not a coffee drinker!!! If you were referring to alcoholic drinks....wine is ok, I drink Amaretto---and mix it with lots of things. Cranberry Juice & vodka is ok. Seemed impossible to me, now it is just normal! Kat

One last suggestion-get yourself some baby wipes non-alcohol. It may not be so bad because you've been on liquids but it is good decision not to do that late shift. Keep us posted and Good Luck!!!

@@Missthugpassion That's probably a good idea. Regardless of WLS, you shouldn't feel you need alcohol to deal with your grief. But believe me, I TOTALLY get where you are coming from. My younger brother died unexpectedly 4 years ago and I was miserable with grief. I tried to dull my pain with food and alcohol.....drank every single day for over a year and a half. Unfortunately it didn't help. All I succeeded in doing was gain 40 pounds. It wasn't until I stopped drinking and actually faced my grief that I was able to start to heal. I am by no means OK even now, but looking back I see I really stunted my ability to move on by not letting myself feel. Now fast forward to 16 months after my VSG. My best friend committed suicide. The grief, anger, guilt and depression has been overwhelming. I go through the motions of living but it's all through a haze of my constant thoughts of him. 6 months later and I feel just as awful as the day it happened (probably worse since at least I had shock on my side at that point). But I learned from my brother that food and alcohol would not make anything better. Honestly I don't know what will, but I just know I can't fall back into that incredibly destructive, ineffective behavior. I have attended grief counseling and suicide seminars, but one website has actually been quite useful...... Www.recover-from-grief.com. It has a lot of good ideas and information. I am by no means close to "recovered", but at least I know I'm not crazy for feeling the way I do. i'm so sorry for what you are struggling with, but know you are not alone.

To clarify - Right now if I try and drink a glass of tea or lemonade or Water while I'm eating it's really uncomfortable. It feels like a big bubble in my stomach and throat. Just wondered if that will ever subside and I can have a few sips if I choose.... not even interested in the alcohol aspect of the whole thing.

Yup. It's true. Your doctor didn't distribute literature or tell you? Here is a list of band rules. maybe that will help. In order to have the best possible result, the patient should obey the following rules: Eat three small meals per day. Eat only good solid food. Eat slowly, sense fullness and then stop. There must be no eating between meals. Take no liquids with the meals. All liquids must be zero calories. Stop eating when your stomach is full. If you reach a satiety sense with a quantity of food lower than prescribed, do not attempt to introduce more food. If the quantity of food prescribed does not cause satiety or if you feel hungry a short time after a meal (one hour), contact the medical team to evaluate a possible LAP-BAND System adjustment. Eat slowly with very protracted chewing. Do not eat sweets or soft foods with a high caloric content. Banding cannot control the introduction of such foods. Avoid foods and drugs with gastric side effects. Reduce coffee consumption. No alcohol. No carbonated drinks or cola. Do not drink and eat at the same time. Do not drink for at least two hours after eating

Well, tomorrow I see the NUT for visit 1 of 4. I was hoping to find out what Dr. Turnquest decided about doing surgery on me (Non-Alcoholic Cirrhosis) but I have the feeling I won't. Earlier this week they hadn't gotten my records from the liver doctor (liver dr said 7-10 business days). It has been over 10 days but I doubt I will know anything one way or another tomorrow. Any suggestions how I can get things moving so I will know? You know how a doctor's office staff can be. I really don't like (can't stand) waiting another month! Besides that, I have so many tests, etc that have to be done pre-op, as you all know, and I don't want to do any of that till I know for sure I am having surgery. Waiting is pure hell!

Well yesterday was my first time attending a family function post op. It was a luau, there were lost of food and alcoholic drinks to be had by all. I am so proud of myself, I was phased by anything. On a side note, I made 4 cheese cakes, 2 white chocolate and 2 mocho, this weekend for my children and wasn't tempted. Question: Is this just a fluke or is it normal 2 weeks post op not to be bothered by one's trigger foods.

I have had the sad experience to know someone who became an alcoholic after having gastric by pass and it is very sad indeed as the drinking of "spirits" has a much faster absorption rate in someone who has this surgery and the affects of the liquor are felt much more profoundly enhancing the addiction. Sadly this person experienced many many issues as a result including, sepsis, kidney failure, sirosis of the liver and an untimely death at the age of 46. She was not someone you could speak to easily and would not seek or participate in counseling.

I wonder if the alcoholism is the same in sleeve patients?

I too know someone who died in her sleep at around age 40. She was a diabetic and became alcoholic, left her family, got uber skinny and was sick alot since she wasn't eating well - really went rogue post gastric bypass. Luckily that is the exception but it does happen.

Hi. Just sharing new articles at the ASMBS: http://connect.asmbs.org/stories-of-the-week-01-05-15.html. Example: WLS is not the "easy way out"; and the risk of more alcoholism after gastric bypass [or, seemingly all WLS]. Click links: Experts: Weight-Loss Surgery Not an Easy Way Out (DelawareOnline) In a local Delaware story featuring two patients who had bariatric surgery after years of struggling with obesity and comorbidities, Dr. John Morton, president of the ASMBS, discusses the advancements in surgical techniques and laparoscopic technology that have made weight-loss surgery "a very safe procedure," Morton said. In Delaware, close to one-third of adults are considered obese and nearly 80,000 people live with diabetes and another 57,340 have heart disease. The article notes, “Unlike most states, Delaware's Obamacare plans do cover bariatric surgery, but candidates must go through screening before it is approved.” All hospitals in the state offer weight-loss management services ranging from nutrition help to performing most of the surgeries on site. It is also noted that, according to ASMBS, there are about 18 million people who qualify for surgery, but only one percent go through with it. And health officials say, a “lack of information and insurance issues have been a deterrence, even as the surgery itself has evolved during the last 50 years.” Dr. Morton comments, "Obesity is a disease and like any disease it deserves treatment… it is something that is really critical. Patients at that weight don't have a lot of options.” Alcoholism After Gastric Bypass: Is It In Your Mind Or Gut? (ScienceLine) In 2012, a large study published in the JAMA reported that the percentage of patients abusing alcohol increased by 2% after surgery, and other studies have corroborated the findings, even a decade after surgery. Since then, scientists have competing ideas for why gastric bypass patients show higher rates of alcohol abuse post-surgery. One early theory proposed addiction transference, suggesting people adopt new addictions after weight-loss in lieu of food. But more recent evidence suggests specific metabolic and hormonal changes triggered by gastric bypass may leave patients vulnerable to alcoholism, but not other addictions. “Whether it’s addiction transference or something else going on, we really don’t know at this point,” said James Mitchell, a doctor and professor of neuroscience at the University of North Dakota. What’s certain, he said, is that the high rates of alcoholism in patients who have had a gastric bypass operation cannot be attributed to chance.